Religious coping and quality of life in women with breast cancer

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the predictive role of religious coping in quality of life of breast cancer patients. Materials and Methods: This multi-center cross-sectional study was conducted in Tehran, Iran, from October 2014 to May 2015. A total of 224 women with breast cancer completed measures of socio-demographic information, religious coping (brief RCOPE), and quality of life (FACT-B). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the t-test, ANOVA, and linear regression analysis. Results: The mean age was 47.1 (SD=9.07) years and the majority were married (81.3). The mean score for positive religious coping was 22.98 (SD=4.09) while it was 10.13 (SD=3.90) for negative religious coping. Multiple linear regression showed positive and negative religious coping as predictor variables explained a significant amount of variance in overall QOL score (R2=.22, P=.001) after controlling for socio-demographic, and clinical variables. Positive religious coping was associated with improved QOL (β=0.29; p=0.001). In contrast, negative religious coping was significantly associated with worse QOL (β=-0.26; p=0.005). Conclusions: The results indicated the used types of religious coping strategies are related to better or poorer QOL and highlight the importance of religious support in breast cancer care

Interventions based on PRECEDE-PROCEED for promoting safety behaviors in Primary school boys

Introduction & Objective: Pedestrian injuries are a significant source of morbidity, mortality and disability among children. Prevention of these injuries is thus a major priority for public health and requires a comprehensive approach and educational strategies. The purpose of this study was designing and evaluation of an educational program, based on the PRECEED-PROCEED model for improvement of safety behavior in primary school boys. Materials & Methods: This study is a field trial carried out in 6th areas of Tehran in 2007. Participants (n=88) were 10 – 11 year old who followed by items measuring the PRECEED-PROCEED model before and after two months of intervention. The collected data were analyzed with T test, X2 and pair T test using SPSS software. Results: After participating in educational program, significant improvements were found in knowledge, attitude, behavior, enabling and reinforcing factors of the components of PRECEEDPROCEED model. Conclusion: The findings suggest the beneficial effects of educational intervention based on the PRECEDE-PROCEED model on improving the safety behavior. It can be recommended that health education plan be used on educational models

Healthcare providers experience of working during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a far-reaching negative impact on healthcare systems worldwide and has placed healthcare providers under immense physiological and psychological pressures. Objective: The aim of current study was to undertake an in-depth exploration of the experiences of health-care staff working during the COVID-19 crisis. Methods: Using a thematic analysis approach, a qualitative study was conducted using semi-structured interviews with 97 health care professionals. Participants were health care professionals including pre-hospital emergency services (EMS), physicians, nurses, pharmacists, laboratory personnel, radiology technicians, hospital managers and managers in the ministry of health who work directly or indirectly with COVID-19 cases. Results: Data analysis highlighted four main themes, namely: �Working in the pandemic era�, �Changes in personal life and enhanced negative affect�, �Gaining experience, normalization and adaptation to the pandemic� and �Mental Health Considerations� which indicated that mental ill deteriorations unfolded through a stage-wise process as the pandemic unfolded. Conclusions: Participants experienced a wide range of emotions and development during the unfolding of the pandemic. Providing mental health aid should thus be an essential part of services for healthcare providers during the pandemic. Based on our results the aid should be focused on the various stages and should be individual-centred. Such interventions are crucial to sustain workers in their ability to cope throughout the duration of the pandemic. © 2020 Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc

Making a symbolic gesture: a qualitative examination of self-immolation in Iran

Self-immolation is one of the most dramatic methods of committing suicide. Some regions in Iran have a high prevalence of suicide by this method. This study aims to understand and explore the experience of self-immolated women in Iran. Twenty women have interviewed in the burns centers of three different cities immediately the following hospitalization due self-immolation, and the data was analyzed using conventional content analysis. The results were categorized in three main categories: Cultural background and preparing the stage, making a symbolic gesture and events of the day of the incident. Making a symbolic gesture consists of the critical elements of self-immolation, including the presence of significant others, dramatic presentation of misery, bringing an end to misfortune, proof of innocence, creating a sense of compassion or guilt and inspiration from similar cases. The social situation of women in Iran is contributing to self-immolation through feelings of anger and helplessnes

The effects of an education program on hookah smoking cessation in university students: an application of the Health Action Process Approach (HAPA)

Background: Hookah smoking is a harmful practice which has become increasingly popular among university students. Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted on 150 male undergraduate students, who were regular hookah smokers, from Jan 2014 to Sept 2016. The participants were randomly selected and assigned to intervention (n = 75) and control groups (n = 75). A self-administered questionnaire was utilized to measure baseline demographic information and HAPA constructs. The primary outcome was an improvement in behavioral intention for quitting hookah, and the secondary outcome was successful abstinence from tobacco use. Results: The motivational phase constructs (one month after the intervention) and the volitional phase constructs (six months after the intervention) except for recovery self-efficacy were significantly higher in the intervention group compared to the control group. Six months after the intervention, 26 (44.1) intenders (participants who intended to quit hookah) in the intervention group quitted hookah while only three (9.4) intenders in the control group did the same. Twelve months after the intervention, the number of students who successfully quitted hookah was significantly higher in the intervention group (19 out of 71) compared to the control group (6 out of 67). Conclusion: HAPA is a useful model that can be applied in education programs to increase the rate of hookah smoking cessation in university students. © 2019, © 2019 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC

Making a symbolic gesture: a qualitative examination of self-immolation in Iran

Self-immolation is one of the most dramatic methods of committing suicide. Some regions in Iran have a high prevalence of suicide by this method. This study aims to understand and explore the experience of self-immolated women in Iran. Twenty women have interviewed in the burns centers of three different cities immediately the following hospitalization due self-immolation, and the data was analyzed using conventional content analysis. The results were categorized in three main categories: Cultural background and preparing the stage, making a symbolic gesture and events of the day of the incident. Making a symbolic gesture consists of the critical elements of self-immolation, including the presence of significant others, dramatic presentation of misery, bringing an end to misfortune, proof of innocence, creating a sense of compassion or guilt and inspiration from similar cases. The social situation of women in Iran is contributing to self-immolation through feelings of anger and helplessness. © 2019, Springer Nature B.V